10. Luke Willson

Seattle Seahawks tight end Luke Willson has had a bit of a coming out party in the late part of the season and into the postseason. He’s been both a solid pass catcher and run blocker for the Seahawks and is faster than a lot of people realize. With the Seahawks’ wide receivers likely having a limited role due to the quality of the Patriots cornerbacks, Willson could be the top receiver on the team.

9. Michael Bennett

Year in and year out the strategy to beat Tom Brady and the Patriots has remained the same: get pressure on Brady. The New York Giants were able to do that consistently both times they beat the Patriots in the Super Bowl and Bennett will be the key for the Seahawks getting pressure on him. He has been their best pass rusher all season and will need to keep that up during the Super Bowl.

8. Chandler Jones

Chandler Jones is an absolute freak of nature. He’s the best pass rusher on the Patriots and will be essential in keeping Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson contained inside the pocket. With the Seahawks’ zone running scheme he’ll also be an important part of making sure running back Marshawn Lynch has a very limited number of cut back lanes.

7. Kam Chancellor

Seattle safety Kam Chancellor is, without a doubt, the hardest hitting safety in the league. Not only will he be responsible for helping in the run game, he’s going to play a big part in setting the tone for the Seattle defense. If any of their tight ends or wide receivers catch the ball near Chancellor, they’re going to be worried about what kind of hit he’s about to deliver. Just his presence is enough to change the game and the way the Patriots receivers run their routes and make catches.

6. Vince Wilfork

Vince Wilfork is the most important player on the Patriots defense. He’s going to be responsible for making sure Lynch can’t run up the middle and that if he does, he doesn’t get any yards after contact. Wilfork will be going up against Seahawks center Max Unger, who likely won’t be at 100%. He will draw double teams and sometimes maybe even some triple teams. If Wilfork is dominant, the Seahawks’ offense will be in serious trouble.

5. Russell Wilson

Against the Green Bay Packers Wilson had probably the worst game of his professional career. If he has the same kind of game in the Super Bowl the Patriots won’t allow him to escape with another win again. He can’t turn the ball over and he will have to avoid taking sacks as well. Yards will be very hard to come by through the air with Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner in the secondary so Wilson will have to make every single throw count.

4. Bobby Wagner

Bobby Wagner will have a lot on his plate in this Super Bowl. One play he might have to cover Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, the next play he might need to tackle LeGarrette Blount running hard up the middle, and the play after that go out and cover Shane Vereen running a wheel route. The Seahawks will be asking Wagner to do a lot and it’s imperative that he does it all at a high level. He’s the quarterback of that defense and is what allows them run as efficiently as they do.

3. Tom Brady

Everything this offense does goes through Brady. Most teams set up the pass with their run game but with Tom Brady it works the other way. The Patriots come out and soften up defenses with quick, intermediate throws, and then they start giving the ball to their running backs. If Brady is off his game, neither their pass game (obviously) nor their run game will have any success.

2. Marshawn Lynch

Everything Seattle does on offense is dependant on Lynch. If Lynch is unable to have success on the ground, nothing else will work for Seattle. Against Green Bay he was facing nine or ten defenders in the box at times and still getting positive yards. When Seattle needed a spark on offense, it was Lynch that provided it. The Seahawks feed off Lynch and if Seattle wants another ring it’s going to have to be on the back of Lynch.

1. Rob Gronkowski

Gronkowski is the epitome of a matchup nightmare. If teams try to cover him with a defensive back he’s entirely too strong and too big for that work. And if they match up a linebacker against him he’s too fast and athletic for them. Even after he catches the ball he’s incredibly hard for anyone to bring him down. For an idea of exactly how valuable Gronkowski is to this offense, watch the Patriots offense in the beginning of the season when Gronkowski wasn’t completely healthy and look at it now. The difference is night and day.